April is National Foot Health Awareness Month, a great time to take a closer look at foot health.

Many of us may not give a lot of thought to our foot health, but, in many ways, foot health can be foundational for our overall health. We need healthy feet for our mobility and to stay active. When we start experiencing foot pain and discomfort, it often becomes a reason to withdraw from any daily activity that involves walking, and our general health and well-being suffer as a result.

Foot health can be affected by many factors, such as improper footwear or poor foot hygiene. But, other lifestyle habits (such as smoking) and health conditions (including diabetes) can also play a major role in foot health as well as overall health.

Read on to learn about our educational foot models and how smoking and diabetes can impact foot health.

Smoking promotes the buildup of plaque (deposits of fat, cholesterol, and other substances) on artery walls, causing them to narrow or harden (atherosclerosis). Peripheral artery disease can result, which occurs when narrowed arteries reduce the flow of blood to the arms or legs. Reduced blood flow to the legs may lead to a weak pulse in the feet, reduced sensation, or sores on the feet that won’t heal. Tissue death (gangrene) can result, sometimes making amputation of a foot necessary.

Made of lifelike BIOLIKE™ with a realistic feel, our Smoked Foot Gangrene Model provides a startlingly authentic look at how smoking can lead to advanced gangrene. Already missing a toe, the diseased foot features the discoloration and trauma of advanced tissue death of the toes and foot.

High blood glucose (sugar) can damage the nerves in the feet. If you have diabetes, you may not be able to feel minor foot injuries, such as a cut or a blister. As a result, you may be unaware of any problems. Diabetes also can damage your blood vessels, causing poor blood flow to your feet. A sore on your foot might not heal properly and progress into a foot ulcer. Without proper intervention and treatment, a minor foot injury can become severely infected, leading to gangrene. Amputation of a toe, a foot, or even a leg may be necessary.

Our Effects of Diabetes Display is a great display with models that shows how uncontrolled glucose levels can cause damage from head to toe. Including models of a damaged brain, eye, lower jaw, heart, kidney, artery, and nerve, the display also features a model of a foot damaged by diabetes, including a diabetic ulcer and gangrene.

Made of realistic BIOLIKE™ material that feels like real tissue, our Diabetic Foot Model depicts four lifelike wounds in various stages of development: a stage 1 ulcer, a stage 2 ulcer, a stage 3–4 ulcer, and a crack under the fold of a toe.

The model is an ideal resource to teach about the role of daily foot self-exams for any foot injuries or abnormalities, such as blisters, calluses, infections, discoloration, swelling, thickened or discolored nails, and dry or cracked skin. Coming with an instruction card and protective carrying case, the model is perfect for on-the-go diabetes educators to use with a variety of patients and students.

Also made of soft BIOLIKE™ material and coming with an instruction card and carrying case, our Severe Diabetic Foot Model depicts what can happen when diabetic foot damage turns to gangrene.

The model also can be used to explain Charcot foot, a foot deformity that can develop because of an undetected injury to the foot. Symptoms may include a red, swollen, or warm foot. Sometimes, a collapsed arch may result. If Charcot foot becomes severe, surgery or amputation may be necessary.

Our Diabetic Foot Model and Severe Diabetic Foot Model are available individually, or you can enjoy savings by purchasing them together as the Diabetic Foot Model Set! When used together for teaching, the foot models make a powerful statement about the importance of controlling blood glucose levels and having regular foot exams as a part of a patient’s routine diabetes care regimen.